After being unable to get a start back in the NRL, former Newcastle five-eighth Sean Rudder has secured himself a deal to play rugby union in Japan.

After being unable to get a start back in the NRL, former Newcastle five-eighth Sean Rudder has secured himself a deal to play rugby union in Japan. Rudder, 28, who has been playing club rugby for Southern Districts since his return from a stint with French Super League club Catalans, signed a lucrative deal with Ricoh on Wednesday night, and will fly to Tokyo next week to start his new career. "At a time NRL clubs are struggling for halves, I couldn't get $40,000 for a guy who had won grand finals and played alongside Andrew Johns but in the end he's got a far better deal," Rudder's agent Tony Butterfield told Sin Bin. "His situation is indicative of what's happening in rugby league at the moment, where if you don't make it by 20 years of age it's seemingly too late."

Mullen not sullen

Knights coach Brian Smith believes five-eighth Jarrod Mullen is mature enough to roll with the punches after NSW selectors left him out of the team for State of Origin III. "I'm sure we'll see Jarrod back playing Origin again in the future," Smith said.

No Mad Dog madness

South Sydney prop and captain Peter Cusack says he harbours no resentment over comments former Souths and now Newcastle player Adam MacDougall made criticising the Rabbitohs forwards last season. After Wests Tigers thrashed Souths 44-4, MacDougall said, among other things: "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out we had some deficiencies around the ruck, and that's where they got us. If I knew it was going to be like that today I would have just turned the oven on at home to 500 degrees and jumped in it." That was the beginning of the end of the Souths-MacDougall partnership, and tonight's game in Newcastle will be the first time he has played against the Rabbitohs since rejoining the Knights. Asked if he was looking forward to coming to grips with "Mad Dog", Cusack said:

"I'll be trying to win the game and not worrying about anything else. People say things but you get over it."

Dell of a deal

The mail on Wendell Sailor's deal with St George Illawarra next year is that he will receive $100,000 up front and $3000 a game.

Beaver damned

Now that Manly star Steve Menzies is again allowed to play golf - as well as league - after three months out with a groin injury, he reckons fellow golfers are taking advantage of him. "I played with 'Fatty' [Paul Vautin] and 'Gibbsy' [John Gibbs] last weekend and they made me stick to my eight handicap, even though I'm as rusty as anything," Beaver said. "I only got 17 [stableford] points, so they got my cash. They're relentless. There's no compassion there at all."

Bad boy bruiser

Scott Wilson never played for the Blues but the former Souths and Bulldogs bad boy has shown he's got plenty of heart by stepping into the breach at short notice against Jamie Goddard in tonight's State of Origin fight night at Brisbane Convention Centre. Wilson replaces former NSW hooker Jim Serdaris, while Tony Butterfield has been advised by his trainer Johnny Lewis to withdraw from his bout with ex-Maroons hardman Kevin Campion due to a wrist injury. Aside from Wilson and Goddard, Queenslanders Trevor Gillmeister, Adrian Vowles, Ben Ikin and Peter Ryan and former Blues Garry Jack, Brett Mullins, Matt Seers and Chris Johns are also on the bill for the night, which will raise funds for the Mardi Jackson Cancer Foundation, along with referees Bill Harrigan (NSW) and Chris McGinty (Qld).

Humbled pie-munchers

The Herald's decision last Saturday to run Craig Gower's comments attacking Danny Weidler inadvertently gave rivals of the Channel Nine reporter and The Sun Herald columnist a free kick at him - and some couldn't resist the opportunity. Channel Seven, 2GB and The Sunday Telegraph all played the man and not the ball, and would have been feeling embarrassed when Gower asked for - and was granted - a release from the remaining two years of his Penrith contract to play rugby union in Europe. As for the Herald, our reporter in Auckland was the only one to front Gower after the Panthers' loss to the Warriors, and we felt compelled to run his response - even if it was at odds with the details in the rest of our report.

NSW coach Graham Murray is lucky he has friends in high places. Sin Bin understands former NSW coach Phil Gould's idea to bring in a coaching "Dream Team" of Blues greats Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and Andrew and Matthew Johns for the dead-rubber game three was seriously considered behind closed doors at the NSWRL.

Gould floated the idea on The Sunday Roast on Channel Nine last week, and we hear there was support among some board members who opposed Murray's appointment in the first place, and Blues major sponsor Mark Bouris, who kicks in about $1.2 million a year. Murray survived chiefly because of his close relationship with NSWRL board member and News Ltd numbers man Peter Jourdain, who is also a director of the Cowboys, Storm and Broncos and on the NRL partnership committee.

Gus on the radar

We hear that if the NSWRL could not strike a deal with its preferred option, Craig Bellamy, to coach the Blues next season, and didn't fancy the alternatives, they would consider trying to talk Phil Gould into coming back, for a year at least. News Ltd types would be sick at the thought of that, but Gus is the most successful coach in Origin history, and NSW have lost two series in a row.

Straight shooter

Penrith coach Matthew Elliott had a bit to say about referees during the week, which is likely to cost him $10,000 after he was issued a breach notice by the NRL. But he wasn't laying the blame squarely on the officials after the Panthers' last-gasp loss to the Roosters last Saturday. "Fortunately, the players don't get breach notices," Elliott told Sin Bin. "They might need to come up with a fair bit. It was a performance that wasn't that smart." But he still said there were small positives out of the club's recent woes. "There's stuff we're realising about our team that's important for us to have covered. If we're going to be a threat in the competition, this stuff's going to have to be addressed at some stage." Asked about the fact most people thought he would be far more successful with a strong roster at Penrith after succeeding at Canberra, Elliott said: "So did I."

Chip off the old Choc

It must have hurt the Dragons to say goodbye to controversial young five-eighth Richie Williams, who joined Penrith during the week. So highly regarded was Williams's ability at the joint-venture club, he was said to be "as skilful as Choc" - former five-eighth Anthony Mundine. But coach Nathan Brown was not happy with Williams's level of commitment.

Jets make comeback

It's going to be a big weekend for Newtown fans, with the Jets hosting Parramatta at Henson Park tomorrow in a replay of the 1981 grand final, and the movie based on the club, The Final Winter, premiering on Sunday at the Sydney Film Festival. With a two-for-one ticket offer, free admission to Eels and Roosters season ticket holders and a jumping castle for the kids, Newtown officials hope to "beat the crowd" - the attendance figure of 8972 the Jets announce for each home game - or at least attract the biggest turnout since their return to Henson Park in 2001. On Sunday, The Final Winter - starring Matthew Johns and featuring the Herald's Roy Masters - screens at the State Theatre at 4.30pm.

Joey breaks mould

Rookie Newcastle halfback Luke Walsh says the best advice Andrew Johns has given him is to not think he has to be the next Joey. "Joey told me to play my own game and not try to be like him," Walsh said. "I think that's good advice. I just go out there and play the way I like to play."

Steelers don't rust

Almost two decades after helping Illawarra to the 1989 midweek Panasonic Cup final, former Great Britain stars Andy Gregory and Steve Hampson have this week returned to the game in separate coaching roles. Hampson, who is renowned as a fitness guru and has worked closely with cricketer Andrew Flintoff and golfer Darren Clarke, has been recruited by new Great Britain coach Tony Smith, another ex-Steeler, as the team's conditioner. The former fullback, who has the distinction of being sent off after 95 seconds for head-butting Kiwis halfback Gary Freeman in one of his 12 Test appearances, will perform the role in tonight's Test against France. Gregory, meanwhile, will this weekend aim to steer Blackpool to their first win in 26 matches after an eight-year absence from the game since being sacked by Salford in 1999. "I know he's been out of the game for a long time, but he's still one of the most recognisable characters," the battling division two club's chairman, John Chadwick, said.

There's a blandness enveloping the game. From dummy-half running to the bleaching of a player's personality by the NRL Thought Police, league is losing touch with its larriken past and its traditions.

The salary cap has evened out the competition to the point where, as Roy Masters writes, parity has produced uniformity. Tribalism is gone and with it the great rivalries that generates so much of its passionate support.

So it's over to you, rugby league supporters, to tell us where you think the game has gone wrong and what can it do to rectify the problem.

The best entries will be published in The Sydney Morning Herald next week but your real name and a valid e-mail address must be supplied.

The NRL yesterday announced a range of changes to refereeing interpretations aimed at discouraging players from feigning injuries - but the modifications don't go as far as Penrith coach Matthew Elliott would like.

Elliott, one of the game's best thinkers, proposes that players who lay on the ground with an "injury" that leads to the tackler being put on report should spend 10 minutes on the sideline recovering. "If he wants to lay down and get the penalty, his team will have to do without him for that period," Elliott wrote in this week's edition of Big League. "What if the player is genuinely injured? Fine - a 10-minute rest will probably do him good anyway." Elliott's idea comes from soccer's English Premier League, where players who stay down injured are forced to leave the field on a stretcher before they are allowed to return. "You look like an absolute goose if you get on a stretcher," he said. "I don't propose we go that far but take them off for 10 minutes and I can guarantee every player in the NRL will think twice about staying down."

Time-saving measures

While the NRL is concerned about the trend of players feigning injuries, it is still determined to crack down on genuine acts of foul play. As a result, referees have been instructed - other than in the most serious cases - to order the teammate of a seemingly injured player who is unable to play the ball, to do so for him. If the referee believes a team is wasting time doing this, a penalty will be awarded against them. Also, the video referee can only intervene on issues relating to a player either being placed on report or dismissed from the field. The referee will not stop play to have incidents reviewed. "While we do modify interpretations during the course of a season, we do not believe that you can abandon the video referee's role in this area altogether halfway through the year," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.

Male bonding

We all know how the Queenslanders spent their time up in Terrigal playing cards, Scrabble and having candlelight dinners. But Karmichael Hunt also found time to cut teammate Justin Hodges's hair. After sporting a new closely cropped haircut on Wednesday night, Hodges revealed it was his good mate "K" who trimmed him up. And he said he wasn't that happy with the result.

Freddie's buzzing

The sight of Brad Fittler, one of the greatest players of his era, running the water for Sydney Roosters during matches might seem incongruous given his enormous standing in the game. But, when asked about it, Fittler said he was having a ball and learning an enormous amount from his on-field involvement with the players as an assistant coach. "I love it," Fittler said. "It's great to have that direct involvement with the players in the heat of a game and to learn from what Chris [Anderson, the Roosters' coach] wants to tell them. I can also give my own advice, and that's part of the learning process, knowing when to say something and what to say. It's a huge buzz." Fittler said he had decided he wanted to be a first-grade head coach eventually. After retiring, he had baulked at the media profile that goes along with the role. "I realise the profile comes as part of the job," he said recently. "I would be prepared to handle that."

Sorry, no show

It's a shame that Fox Sports won't be broadcasting the press conferences after tomorrow night's match between Cronulla and the Warriors, where the great diving debate is sure to get another airing. After the Sharks' victory over the Dragons on Monday night, coach Ricky Stuart launched an attack at "that bloke from the Warriors". It was a clear reference to Warriors coach Ivan Cleary's accusation after their round-eight clash that Sharks players took dives. Meanwhile, Fox Sports insiders have told us that Stuart had peace talks with the network on Wednesday. Stuart is unhappy that Fox Sports keeps a camera trained on him during every match, although it's believed the network does so for most coaches during most games. And especially for coaches as passionate as Stuart.

Misrepresenting Bob

In claiming on The Footy Show last week that Bob McCarthy had "probably been misquoted" during the build-up to State of Origin II, Paul Harragon only served to do exactly what he presumed had been done to the NSW chairman of selectors. McCarthy, among other things, admitted in the Herald that a number of Blues players were under pressure, in a clear bid - we thought - to fire up the side. However, Harragon's comments undermined that effort and in the process misrepresented McCarthy, who told the Herald on the eve of the match that he stood by his original comments. And you can quote us on that.

80th min: NSW and QLD trade errors. The Blues have one last chance but Cooper's kick into the in-goal is easily defused. QLD win the series.

79th min: The Blues go from side to side Hayne puts in a chip kick and Hodges takes the ball over the sideline. NSW have one last chance.

78th min: The video ref rules NO TRY!

78th min: Berrigan scoots over from a try after Kite's pass goes loose. Hint of a knock-on. The video ref to decide.

77th min: QLD have the ball back as Mason pushes the pass.

76th min: Another penalty for NSW, full-on milked by Buderus. The Blues pressing the Maroons's line.

75th min: Penalty to the Blues after Mason has the ball stripped in a tackle. The Blues on the attack. Last-chance saloon?

72nd min: Berrigan drops a sitter fior QLD, a reprieve for NSW. The Blues throw it from side-to-side and eventually King kicks it to Hunt who races for 20 metres. QLD have possesion on their own 20 metre line.

71st min: NSW pinned in their own territory. Kimmorley chip kicks and Stewart regathers but Civoniceva nails him as he gathers the ball. Change over.

69th min: Simpson drops the ball with NSW on the attack. QLD to have a scrum feed.

68th min: QLD have the ball inside their own 20. Thurston kicks straight down field to Hayne.

65th min: Thurston misses the conversion as the crowd boos.

64th min: TRY! Thurston drifts across field and puts in a grubber and Bell flies onto it and scores. A blatant forward pass missed in that movement. QLD 10 - NSW 6

62nd min: First penalty for Queensland. Bailey, who was in possession, is penalised because he grabbed the markers leg and toppled him over.

61st min: Tate has limped off. Berrigan is now playing in the centres, Bell on the wing. NSW dominating territory and possession.

61st min: Anasta puts in a grubber but Inglis reads it well and is tackled two metres out.

59th min: But a penalty does go to NSW. Mason charges at the Maroons. and Bailey is stopped five metres out. Kimmorley puts up a cross-field bomb and Tate bats it dead.

57th min: Knock-on at dummy half by Lockyer but it should have been a penalty as Buderus did not mark up properly.

55th min: Kimmorley puts into the grubber and Lockyer haas no choice but to bat it dead. First dropout by Queensland. The dropout goes 70 metres and Hoffman drops the ball on the third tackle.

54th min: Thurston's clearing kick still finds NSW on the attack.

53rd min: Another bomb from Anasta. Not enough pressure on Tate who takes it easily. NSw having the better of the game at the moment.

52nd min: Razzle dazle stuff. Kimmorley opts for a cross-field kick, and Tate the lone Queenslander on the left side of the field, stops a flying Hayne from gathering the ball.

51st min: At last the first penalty of the game. It was against Civoniceva. The Blues on the attack.

50th min: The Blues charge into QLD territory. Kimmorely puts up the bomb but Inglis flies high to take it.

48th min: Oooh! Thurston puts through the grubber and it just eludes a diving Inglis.

47th min The Blues run it back and kick into Qld territory. Cooper nearly takes an intercept but it's six again for the Maroons. They're on the attack.

46th min: Thurston kicks straight down field. The ball hits the upright and Hayne gathers for the Blues.

44th min: The obligatory bomb goes up by the Maroons but King is safe under high ball.

43rd min: A crossfield kick goes in for NSW. Cooper looms but the bounce favours Hunt and the Maroons are away.

42nd min: NSW run it for five and kick. QLD ruck it back into NSW territory where Thurston puts up a bomb. Hayne defuses it.

The players are back for the second half.

40th min: It's halftime but not before a final scare for QLD. Anasta and Mason create space on the left wing, Cooper puts a kick in, it richochets off Inglis but goes touch in-goal.

39th min: Pressure relieved for NSW as Myles, the man who has played just 33 minutes in eight weeks, drops the ball.

37th min: The chant for NSW goes up from the crowd. Kimmorley kicks the ball straight to Tate. Queensland on the attack again. Thurston kicks it into the in-goal and Thurston is trapped. Another line dropout, the third NSW has conceded.

36th min: Lockyer puts up a bomb and Stewart takes it under enormous pressure.

35th min: Thurston kicks and Stewart gathers in the in-goal area. Mason charges forward to the halfway line. The Blues on the charge but Hoffman loses possession.

34th min: The Blues ruck it for 20 metres before Kimmorley kicks it straight to Inglis.

33rd min: Cameron Smith makes another half break putting QLD on the attack. Costigan loses it and the Blues have possession 20 metres out from their own line.

30th min: Kimmorley puts a kick up and the ball finds touch 20 metres out from Queensland's line.

29th min: Kicks goes in from Thurston. Stewart waits waits waits and waits but the ball just goes dead.

28th min: NSW only just repel QLD this time. Lockyer spins his way out of several tackles before offloading to Carroll who is held up. Three tackles to go.

27th min: NSW repel the first raid bu Anasta is forced to ground the ball in the in-goal. Line drop out.

25th min: Terrible play from Lyon. He runs across field and Lyon gives Cooper a hospital which he duly drops. Maroons on the attack.

23rd min: Smith kicks it from halfway after the restart. Stewart is mobbed by the Maroon chasers. Hayne, Bailey, Hindmarsh and Anasta barge forward before Kimmorley puts up a high bomb which Hunt takes five metres out.

22nd min: Thurston converts. NSW 6 - QLD 6

20th min:TRY! Inglis again. Cameron Smith runs from dummy half on the last and is swamped by the defence but he manages to flick the ball along the ground to an unmarked Inglis whoc scoops it up to score. Five tries in three games for Inglis. NSW 6 - QLD 4.

18th min: NSW gains just 26 metres in five tackles. Hunt takes Kimmorely's kick 30 metres out from his own line. Hodges puts in a clever kick and Brett Stewart races across and bats the ball into touch in-goal just before Tate arrives.

16th min: Kimmorley kicks from 30m out, Brent Tate gathers it in for QLD 50 metres down field. Cameron Smith makes a half break on the 4th tackle. The kick goes up from Thurston 30 metres out. Inglis flies high but knocks it on.

15th min: Qld wins the scrum and launch an attacking raid in the NSW half. Lockyer puts a kick in from 10m out. Anasta blocks it with his foot and gains possession for the Blues.

14th min: From the 20m restart NSW takes it to the halfway mark where Willie Mason loses the ball in the tackle.

12th min: Buderus charges down a kick. Six again for the maroons. Thurston kicks it from 40m out but the ball goes dead.

10th min: NSW barge it out to the 35m mark when Kimmorley puts in a kick that finds space. Tate and Hunt bring it out to the 10m mark.

9th min: Conversion by Lyon. NSW 6 - QLD 0

9th min: TRY! Anasta flick pass puts Simpson through a hole, He is tackled a metre out but Brett Stewart on debut crashes over from dummy half. NSW 4 - QLD 0

7th min: There's a restart at the 20 metre line but Steven Price drops the ball after a solid tackle by Buderus.

6th min: Andrew Ryan nearly crashes over the Blues. The next play they spin it wide and King is bundled into touch at the corner post.

5th min: Hindmarsh catches Lockyer high, missed by the referee. NSW get the ball on the halfway line.

5th min: injury concern for NSW with Cooper hobbling.

4th min: Blues ruck it to halfway. Another Kimmorley bomb, another Inglis take.

3rd min: Tate makes half a breaks for the Maroons with Lockyer putting up a bomb from halfway. Stewart again up to the task.

2nd min: Blues ruck it to 20 metres out where a Brett Kimmorley bomb is defused by Greg Inglis.

1st min: Briath Anasta kicks off for NSW. The Maroons barge forward but only make 20 metres before kicking it straight down Brett Stewart's throat. NSW on the attack.

Welcome to the Herald's coverage of State of Origin II at Telstra Stadium. The news from Homebush is that the weather is fine, but it is a very cold day in Sydney.

More bad news for the Blues with Anthony Minichiello ruled out for the series with Brett Stewart from Manly his replacement.

"I've got to change my coaching style . . . if it's an advantage to lay down, I'll have them laying down," so said Ricky Stuart after a spiteful game.

No it wasn't the local derby last night at Oki Jubilee, it was after the game between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders in August 2003.

Stuart was incensed that Mark McLinden had stayed down after a hit from Adrian Morley. The Roosters enforcer was eventually suspended for two weeks but that outcome didn't stop Stuart of accusing opposing coach, Matthew Elliott, of instructing his players to stay down to earn the penalty - an accusation previously levelled at Elliott that season by Canterbury coach Steve Folkes.

Last night, Cronulla forward Paul Gallen winked at his teammates after he stayed down from a high shot by Richie Williams. St George's Ben Creagh was accused of a similar tactic as was Cronulla's Adam Dykes, even though the high shot he copped resulted in Adam Peek being sent off.

When asked after the game what he thought of the tactic, Stuart said "If the referee misses it and the two touch judges miss it, it can't be that bad. And if they did miss something that was quite blatant and or a cheap shot, leave it to the judiciary.

"Anything they do miss I don't think is too bad. If they do miss the odd one it's going to be better than someone getting a clip on the chin in front of the posts with about 30 seconds to go and they're a point down in the grand final

"I ask you the question: what would you [the journalists] do? Would you lay down?

"You're all nodding your heads."

Well, what would you do?

Under the current rules would you coach players to stay down, or do you think the tactic is unsporting?

Wikipedia, one of the world's biggest reference points, likes to boast that anyone can edit the online encyclopedia, and the following (edited) entry on Scott Minto that was posted on the website earlier this week - and hastily removed - proves it.

SCOTT (COOL MINT) MINTO (born September 20, 1948): Scott burst onto the NRL scene with massive raps from some league greats such as Clive Churchill, Wally Lewis and Gavin Minto (Scott's Dad). Wayne Bennett signed him immediately for millions. After his first five games he had only dropped the ball 11 times and was voted player of the decade, just edging ahead of Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler. By 2004, his third season, Minto was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame and was made an "Immortal". This caused a massive stir as no player had ever been given immortal status while still playing. Also Minto had never played for Australia or even Queensland. In fact, in his three seasons he had only started on 21 occasions and scored three tries. In a fan poll by Rugby League Week, they asked "Should Scott Minto be the next immortal?" 100 per cent of the public voted "NO". In a player poll conducted by Big League, they asked the same question and 99.7 per cent voted "No". A petition was made so that Minto would not become an immortal. This attracted 2,000,173 signatures.

Nathan's credit check

Nathan Hindmarsh is nothing if not honest. Apart from admitting he thinks he will get dropped if the Blues don't win Origin II, he says that while he is happy with his form, "I'm nowhere near where the [Greg] Birds and [Paul] Gallens are at the moment. Those guys are starring every time they play." Hindmarsh said he thought he probably had some credit points with the selectors for good performances in the past, which helped him keep his spot but he realised that, like frequent-flyer points, they only last so long unless you keep performing (or flying).

It's all about Mimis

Don't think the saga involving the re-signing of Sharks captain Brett Kimmorley didn't endure one last twist. Coach Ricky Stuart was forced on Tuesday night to place yet another deadline on Kimmorley's manager, George Mimis, to agree to a new two-year deal. When Mimis realised Stuart wasn't budging - again - he could not inform Cronulla quick enough that "Noddy" would agree to terms. The Kimmorley deal is about $300,000 per season, but that is dependant on him meeting a raft of incentives - and it's about $50,000 less per year than what Stuart initially offered the veteran halfback.

Whizz with figures

And don't believe for a second that Kimmorley knocked back an offer of $1.2 million over three seasons to join Brisbane, as reported elsewhere. Broncos officials are steaming that Mimis told a newspaper that his client had rejected the offer because, "Brett wanted to stay in the Shire." According to Broncos insiders, the offer was more like the one he has accepted to stay at the Sharks. And it was withdrawn as soon as the club had signed Penrith young gun Peter Wallace.

No contest for Wallace

While on Wallace, there have been plenty of figures flying around related to his decision to move to Brisbane next year, with one suggestion that he will receive $280,000 a season. He won't get nearly that much, but he'll still do very well for a 21-year-old who has only played 12 first-grade games. The two-year deal is worth $180,000 for the first year, with the opportunity to earn about $30,000 more through bonuses in the second year. Wallace, with bonuses, will earn about $100,000 from Penrith this year. The Panthers did not try to compete with the Brisbane offer, which suggests they are either confident about alternative plans or have salary-cap issues.

Bodies piling up

Much has been made of the number of players St George Illawarra have used this season, which had club officials talking about the possibility of breaching their second-tier salary cap after using 29 players this season. While the Cowboys have not complained publicly about their own predicament, they have used an amazing 32 players so far this season - more than they have ever used in one season. And we're only halfway through the competition!

Monday quarterback

Last week was Anthony Mundine's worst round since joining the Herald's tipping panel. He was toppled from the lead for the first time but there were mitigating circumstances. "I don't want Khoder [Nasser, his manager] to do my tips again," Mundine told the Herald last Friday after being uncontactable the day before when the tips need to be submitted. For the record, the tips Mundine had wanted to change were Penrith, Gold Coast and Parramatta - all winners.
Brad Walter, Greg Prichard, Andrew Webster and Glenn Jackson

Upsets, send-offs and Origin speculation. Just another weekend in the NRL.

Coaches under pressure: Steve Folkes and Nathan Brown have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons the past few weeks. Both their teams had wins on the weekend. Do you think the pressure valve has been released?

Send-offs: The No.5 jumper for the Warriors seems to be cursed. Manu Vatuvei had a horror game against Parramatta last week, but his replacement Michael Crockett lasted just five minutes against the Bulldogs before becoming the third player to be sent off this season. Are send offs used enough in the game?

Origin selections: It seems Jarrod Mullens Origin career is in hiatus with speculation that Matt Orford or Brett Kimmorley will get the No.7 job. Who do you favour and what other changes would you make?

NSW selectors were set to break with tradition and stick with the halves for State of Origin II until Jarrod Mullen broke down with the calf injury that will result in them looking elsewhere for a halfback. Eight out of the 11 times the Blues had previously lost the first game of a series, there was at least one change to the halves. And on each of the three occasions there wasn't a change - in 1991, '94 and '98 - there were extenuating circumstances. NSW had won the previous year's series, which left the selectors feeling less pressure to change since they could at least remember a recent series victory, and the halves involved were just about all in the superstar category. In '91 the pairing was Cliff Lyons and Ricky Stuart, in '94 it was Laurie Daley and Stuart and in '98 it was Daley and Andrew Johns.

Record for sale

Graham Murray will equal the record for most consecutive losses by a NSW coach if the Blues lose to Queensland at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday week. Frank Stanton holds the unwanted mark at four straight games. NSW lost games two and three of the 1982 series under Stanton and Ted Glossop coached the team in '83. Stanton came back to coach the Blues again in '84 and lost the first two games of that series. NSW have lost their past three games, going back to last year, Murray's first in charge. Murray needs the Telstra Stadium curse on the Maroons to continue. The Blues are unbeaten in 10 games there.

Ban hurts, cries Nate

If suspended Queensland forward Nate Myles performs strongly in Origin II, it will be down largely to NSW trainer Ronny Palmer. Despite not having played for three weeks before the series opener, Myles showed no signs of fatigue and he will again go into the next match without any game time under his belt after being suspended for a dangerous throw on Brett White. "Ronny Palmer is really enjoying my stint with suspension, put it that way," the Roosters star said of the club's trainer. "It's been torture. But Ron's got me in the best shape I could be in."

Mr Angry, Mr Grumpy

Sin Bin likes the fact Fox Sports provides live coverage of the post-match media conferences on Monday nights. It gives the public an insight into what we have to deal with sometimes, from coaches. Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett last Monday week? You saw it. And Warriors coach Ivan Cleary wasn't interested in giving much of himself this week, either. Cleary did, however, say he had a lot of faith in Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei, who had a shocker with his handling against Parramatta. The next day, Vatuvei was dropped for Sunday's game against the Bulldogs.
Guru's guilt trip

Still on Vatuvei, even Eels counterpart Eric Grothe expressed sympathy for the giant winger, who dropped the ball six times on Monday night to gift Parramatta three tries. "Guru [Grothe] made the point after the game that when Manu made his first mistake, Guru was like, 'Yeah'," Eels winger Jarryd Hayne revealed at a NSW Origin lunch. "After the second and third ones he was still going, 'Good on you', but by the fourth time Guru felt sorry for him. When Guru scored his try, he actually felt bad."

Right place, wrong time

Despite Brian Carney walking out on the Titans after just one day with the club, Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle holds no hard feelings towards the dual international and had hoped to catch up with him while in Ireland with his mother to celebrate her 60th birthday. But Carney is in Argentina with the Ireland rugby team, for whom he made an impressive Test debut last weekend by scoring a try.